Mike Tyson Slaps Jake Paul During Intense Stare-Down:
The most anticipated boxing match in recent memory is set to take place.
Social media star Jake Paul will face off against former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday night.
Paul claims the idea for the bout came to him during an ayahuasca retreat, and it became a reality when the fight was officially announced in March.
The fight, originally scheduled for July 20, was delayed by four months after Mike Tyson experienced an ulcer flare-up in May.
While some may view the matchup as a publicity stunt, the state of Texas has officially sanctioned it as a professional bout. This means the fight will count on Tyson's record, marking his first official fight since his 2005 loss to Kevin McBride by sixth-round TKO. (His 2020 exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr., where Jake Paul fought on the undercard against former NBA player Nate Robinson, did not count on his record.) For Jake Paul, this will be his third fight of the year.
Though the fight is sanctioned, there are some notable adjustments: it will consist of eight two-minute rounds, and the fighters will wear 14-ounce gloves.
**Mike Tyson 'Fine' Being Underdog to Jake Paul, Says Oddsmaker**
Jake Paul's promotion, Most Valuable Promotions, is behind the highly anticipated fight between Paul and Mike Tyson, which will be streamed live on Netflix at no extra charge for subscribers. With a potential global reach of nearly 300 million televisions, the fight is set to attract a massive audience.
Most Valuable Promotions, co-founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021, gained recognition for helping Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano sell out Madison Square Garden in 2022. The two will also meet in a rematch as the co-main event on Friday night.
Paul enters the ring with a 10-1 record, six of those wins coming by knockout. Tyson, a former heavyweight champion, boasts a career record of 50-6, with 44 of his victories coming by knockout.
Ahead of the fight, Paul and Tyson have adopted very different strategies. Paul has done what he’s known for—trash-talking, trolling, and drawing attention with his provocative comments. Tyson, on the other hand, has taken a more reserved approach, keeping his responses brief and focused. That is, until Thursday night.
At the weigh-in, things took a dramatic turn. Tyson slapped Paul across the face with an open hand, and the two squared up before being separated by event staff as tensions flared.
Despite the heated moment, Tyson seems comfortable with being the underdog, and oddsmakers have weighed in on why Paul is favored heading into the bout. Tyson, who hasn’t fought professionally in years, remains confident, while Paul’s momentum and recent activity in the ring have positioned him as the favorite.